DAIRY PRODUCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE.

A GENERAL REVIEW. INCREASE IN EXPORT QUALITY. DECLINE IN THE PRICES. Exports : of butter from New Zealand for the year ended March 31, 1931, amounted to 1,841,245 cwts valued at £10,513,68 4, compared with 1,599,407 and £12,022,n-iU respectively in the. corresponding period last year, giving an increase in quantity of 241,838, but a decrease in value of £1,508,756. In cheese the figures were 1,87'5,380 and £5,964,699 compared with 1,6T5,538 and £6,280,213, an increase of 256,843 cwts and decrease of £315-, 514 for the 1931 period. Reviewing the export of dairy produce the Department of Industries and Commerce in its bulletin 14 states:— In accordance with the usual seasonal experience, the monthly production of butter will from'' now on show a sharp falling-off, but, judging hy the returns for the first eight months of the current dairying season, it is confidently expected that a continuance of production on its present basis will enable last year’s record output of dairy production to be exceeded. For the first eight months to March 31 last production bad indeed reached a very high level, the quantities of butter and cheese graded being respectively 0.76 per cent and 7.34 per cent in advance of the gradings for Lire corresponding period of the preceding season. The quantities of butter graded during the period were 80,845 tons of salted and 3206 tons of unsalted, making a total of 84,051 tons. The respective quantities for the first eight months of the 1929-30 season were 82,039 tons of salted and 1370 tons of unsalted, making a total of 83,409 tons. The increase during the current season was therefore 642- tons, or, as mentioned above, 0.76 per cent. The quantities ofcheese graded during the eight months of the 193031 season were 52,040 tons of white and 24,193 tons of coloured, making a total of 76,233 tons. The comparative figures for the August-March period of the 1929-30 season were 47,473 tons of white and 23,548 tons of coloured, a total of 71,021 tons. The Increase during the current season to the end of March was therefore 5212 tons or 7.34 per cent. Converting the above figures into butterfat equivalent, there was an increase of 2.97 per cent in butterfatproduction for the eight months as compared with the corresponding period of the previous season. Stocks held in the various grading ports at the end of March were: Butter 15,944 tons, cheese. 10.38 S tons ,as compared with 14,431 tons of butler and 13,214 tons of cheese held on March 31. 19.10. Fxnorls of butter during the first eight months of the current season amounted to 67,558 tons, as against 6 g ,70 tons for the same period of Hie previous season —a decrease of 1 0 tons or 1.33 per cent. Exports of cheese during the respective periods were 64,702 tons and 57,204 tons —an increase of 7498 tons, or 13.11 per cent.